Electrical-circuit switch.



J. M. SMITH. ELEGTRIGAL CIRCUIT SWITCH.

APPLIUATIOR FILED JAE. 16, 1911.

Patented Feb.- 20, 1912.

2 sums-8mm q,

H'NENTOR J a @253 M. SW13,

WITNESSES: a atz/fiw e. '1'

J. M. SMITH.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.]6.1911.

1,018,381. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEE'I 2.

2N4 *5- 36 "5' 3.5 55 33552 4 21732 37 3 56 D 3 as 55 WlTNE SS ES: INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? JAMES M. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF.TQ

WILSON D. CRAIG WRIGHT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. I

ELECTRICAL-CIRCUI [T SWITCH.

Original application filed May 25, 1910, Serial No. 583,237. Divided and Serial No. 602,791.

State of Pennsylvania, have invented oer tain new and useful Improvements in 'Electrical-Circuit Switches; and I do hereby de-' clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ehable others skilled in the art-to which. it'appertains to make anduse the same, ref

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked" thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has' reference, generally,

to improvements in electrical "circuit.-

switches; and,-the present invention is adivision of the Sub ect-matter of mydformer application for Lette1f'sPatent,,fi led May 25,

1910, Serial Number 563,237.-

The principal object of my present invention is to provide a novel switching device adapted to control the flow of either of twoi independentelectrical circuitsinto, a com-. such for example, as the control of two generating circuits of an igni-E tion system, so as to pass either one or the:

mon field of work,

other through a single induction-coil and distributing to such illustrative use.

-Other objects oi ated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of'the same.

-With the various objects of the present invention in view, the-said invention conswitchmg devention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and colnblnatlonsof the vari- -eus devices'and parts, all of which will b more fully described in the following spec]; fication, and then. finally embodied inthe clauses 'of *thelclaim which Specification of Letters Patent.

device, as shown in the draw-.. ings accompanying this application which; illustrates one manner ofusing the present invention, although it is not my intention tolimit-my novelswitching device merely the present invention not-atthis-time-more particularly enumer-- are appended to and which form an essential part of the.

Patented Feb. 20,1912, this application filed January 16,-

Figure l is a lan or face view of-the novel switching and embodying the principles of the present invention, the same being shown in connection with the diagrammatic representation ofan ignition system, said view illustrating more particularly the operatiln of the switching device and one of the uses to which the same may be applied. 'Fig. 2 .is alongitudinal vertical. section of he switching device, said section being taken on line 22 in said F rection of the arrow w; Fig. 3 is a crossgsee tion of said switching device, taken online Similar characters of reference are employedin all of.t-he.hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now t'o the said drawings, the

reference-character 1' indicates f a novel switching l device made according to and present inembodying the principles-of the ventiojn. Said switching device comprises a base or body-member 2 of any desirable shape or configuratiomthe-same ing preferably constructed of some insulating material, Secured upon said base or bodv-merrrher 2 is a fulcrum-block 3, the same being adapted to receive a screw 54., or similar means, designed to serve as a fulcrum for a switch-arm. 5, which is ,made of metalqor 99 -other material Which is a-go'od conductor: of electricity. The rearend of said-.ful- 'crum-block 3 is provided with a semi-circular' groove 6.

Secured, by any suitable -means,.upon the base or body-member2is a contact bleck;' 7, provided with a serewi8, or other means, adapted ,to provide a' binding post. Con nected with said contact-block 7 is a springarm -9, the free end of which is'bent, so; as 100 to..form a vertical semicircular groove lO i adapted to register in its position opposite the said groove '6. in said fulcrum block. 3.

evice made according to 55 ig. 1; looking in thedi; 65

is 'another'c'ross; 70

said spejcifica tion, v The said registering grooves 6 and 8 The invent-ion isblearly illustrated in the; will be evident,--provide a suitable receiv- 105 accompanying drawings, 1n Wh1ch: f in}; socket for the shank 11 of a .contact arm'5 is provided with a pair of czppositelyextending lugs 13, said lugs exten outwardly rom-each side of the said syvitcharm. Secured Fto said switch-arm 5, so as to register beneathsaid lugs 13', is a contact plate 14, the same being ulated from'eleo' trical contact with said switc -a}'rm by means of an intervening insulator-plate 1 5. ,The said contact-plate 14 is vheld in place by 5 means of biiltsfand nuts 16,'=which are also insulated from electrical contact with said 'swit'ch-arm' by meansjof the insulatorsleeves 17. Secured upon said base or bodymember 2, by any suitable means, is a con- 30 tact-carrier 18, which is provided with a tubular portion 19 ada ted to be countersunk in t c said base or ody-member 2, and arranged in said tubular portion 19 is the head20 of a yieldable contactpoint 21,which projects upwardly through a suitable hole or perforation 22 in said contact carrier so thatthe' same will bear against said contact plate 14. aid contact point 21 is maintained in its contacting relation by means an of a coil-s ring '23 which is arranged beneath the cad 20ai1d within said tubular portion 19,the an spring being retained 1n place by means (if a 'screw-threaded plug 24 secured within the lower end of'sjaid tu- -85 bular portion 19. Said contact-carrier 18 is further vprovided with a screw 25., or other means, adapted to provide a binding-post. A contact-carrier 26 of similar construction as that herein-above described is arranged upon and connected with the saidbasc or body-member to one side of said switch-arm 5. This saidgcontact-carrier is also provided with a spring-actuated contact-point 27, and

a screw'28, or other means adapted to pro vide a binding post. In ike manner, an other contact-carrier 29 isl arranged upon and-connected with the base orbody-memher '2, and islocated adjacent to the other side of said-switch-arm 5, the said contactcarrier 29 beingalso provided with a springactu'ated contact point 30, and a screw 31,

or other means, adapted to provide a binding-post, Thei switch-arm 5 is further providedwith another pair of o'positely extending lugs or arms 22 whic are formed with suitable holes or perforations 33 in which are seated ball-contacts 34, the latter being retained in their operative relation by meansof a springpl'ate 35' secured by means of screws 36, on any other retaining means, to said switch-arm 5. The free ends of said spring-plate 35 extend outwardly over each erforation cr hole 33, and bearagainstaaid all-contacts 34.1 The said base or; bodymember 2 is further provided with a rib or upwardly projecting portion'37 upon which said ball-contacts 34 ride, and secured upon said base or body-member 2, in any suit- .able manner, but adjacent to one end of said rib or vprojecting portion 37, is a contactplate 38 which is provided with a receivingseat 39 for one of said ball-contacts 34, when the latter is re istered with or brought above said contact'p ate 38 by the movement of said switch-arm 5. $aid contact-plate 38 is provided with a screw 40, or other means, providing a suitable bindlng post. In like manner, there is arranged and secured upon said base or body-member 2, in any suitable manner, adjacent to the other end of said rib or projecting-portion 37 another contact plate 41, also provided'with a receivin seat 42 for the reception'ofthe other of sai ball contacts 34, when the same is registered with or brought 'above said contact-plate 41, by the opposite movement of said switch-arm ,5; Sald contact-plate 41 is also rovided with a screw 43,. or other means, a apted to provide a binding-posh The id contactnlate 41 is further provided wiii a contact -5 point 44, arranged to receive th contact of a spring-actuated contact-pin 45, mounted in 'a supporting-block 46 secured by any suit able meansto said base or body-member 2.

Said supporting-block 46 is also; provided with a screw 47, or other means, adapted to provide a'binding post. The said switch arm 5 is provided at its free end with a -handle-portion or member 48, whichl'forms a suitablemanipulating means therefor, said handle-portion or member being cpnstructed of some insulating material to render the same safe against electrical shocks when handled, the said Inember'48 being so -wed or otherwise secured. to the free end 9' said switch-1111115. M l 7 To illustrate the origination and useof'my novel switching device," the detailed construct-ion of which has been hereinabove set forth, I have shown in connection with Fig. 1 of the accompanyin drawings,-'an electrical system which is a pted to be-controlled by said switching-device. It will be understood,however, t at I do not wish to confine the use of my switchin device to: the use herein shown and'descrlbed, since that use is merely illustrative, and various applications of my switchin device to other uses, and in other electijca systems, can be made, as will be clearly evident. f

The electrical system I have chosen to illustrate the use of my sWitchingZ deviceis a higbtension ignition 5 ylstem, in which'two generating circuits at employed, one 7 of said circuits being supplied by a magnetogenerator 49, and current being supplied to a main line or circ it i which is i an 'Q g s faft, are mechanical circuit interru n; -.mechanical interrnpters bdang i induction-coil 51, and the current-distributer 52 of the ignition system. Connected with the magneto-generator 49, so 'as to be rated by the revolution of the armature ters or make' and break devices of any wel -known jt'ype; there'being an interru ter for-both the magneto circuit and the ba Q-erycircriit, said f closed in a mi'suitablecasing; Thesaid mec anical inter- .e i'upter for the ma'gncin circui is provided 'i with a terminal 55 which may be termed -';;themagneto interrupter terminal; in like wmanner the mechanical interrupter for ,the lbattery. circuit is provided with a terminal {557, which may be termed the battery inter rupt er terminal. The completion of the re Elective magneto and battery. circuits t" ough their "interrupters or -make .and break devices will be understood from the asubsequent. description of the operationof J the novel switch.

I The wirin of the two generating circuits, ras connecte with my novel switching de- 5 'w"ice,.briefiy, is as iollowsz-Conneeted with gai armature-terminal 53 of said" 'nagnetojg"enerator 49 is a wire-conductor 4, s k hich e tends ,to' the contact-carrier 26, andt 'is se red-thereto by the screw 28. Connected 'yyithfthe ma netointerrupter-terminal -'f s'a'wire'con uctor 56 which extends tosthe T1 terru ten-terminal 57 is a wire-conductor ?5 8 ,"'wh1ch' extends to the contact-plate .41, an is secured thereto by means of the "screw 43." Connected with one pole of the *hatte'ry 50 is a wire-conductor 59, which ex- I tends to the contact'c'arrier 29, and is sejniio cured theretorby means of the screw 31. The other pole of said battery 50 is connected'bymeans of awire-conductor 60 to a :ground. --This wire-conductor 60 has an ex- .tnsion 61 whjoh is connected with the supeqs -'-i)orting block ',46 of said contact-pin .45, by means of a screw 47. The termlnal 62 of -..the primary-windin of said induction-coil ;5 1 =-isconnected rwit 'a wire-conductor 63, which extends to said carrier-plate 1'8, and

so s secured thereto by means of said screw 40. Connected with the battery 25 The winding of said-.induction-coil 51 is connected with a wire-conductor 65, which extends to said contact-block 7,' and. is secured 61 of the secondary wlndmg of said inductibn-coil 51 is connected with a wire-com di ctor 67, which extends to and is connected with -the revolving distributenarm or c'onof said distributing device 52,

'neto, by way of the" iivire conducfor" 6'i; to

ntact-plate'38, and is secured thereto by "rent is conducted thence along t other terminal 64: of the primary thereto by means of screw- 8. The terminal ator-circuits by the action'of my switching device. a

Assumingthat the ma etc-circuit he desired, the same is compfiited as follows The wire-conductor 54 conductsjthe current to the contact-carrier.26 and its eontactpoint .27 of the switching device. Assumi that the switch-arm 174s shifted-to the le t i so as to bringiitscontajcting portions. in' contact, respectively, with the saidcontactcarrier 26 and'its contact-point 27,- and with said contact-plate 38 audits-contact receivg ing-seat 39, the current their fi OW..fI'OII l said contactoint-21 into the contact-plate 14, carried y. said. switch-arm"'5,' which bridges thesame to the contact-point 21 of the' contact-carrier 18, whereupon the cur rent is conducted'thence along the wire-com; ductor' 63, to the terminal '62 of the in'duction-coi'l 51, returning" from the terminal 64' thereof througl the wire-conductor a 65 to the contact-block 7, and thence intu t-he switch-arm- 5: and ball-contact 34. t he contact-plate 38, and thus back "to, the. ma

te hethe magnetminterrupter-termina s u J Assuming that the battery circuiflbe d siredjto be connectedwith said induction coil, the 'same is completed fasigfollowsz The wire cond'uctor: 59 conducts-the current v from one pole of the battery 50to the= -contact-carriervv 29'.and its tcontact-point-afl'of the switch device. 4 switch-arm 5 is shifted to therighttohrin its contacting ortionsrimco'ntach res ectively, with 'they sald contactpoint 30,

an with the contact-plate 41- and. itsg-contact-receiving seat 42, the battery-current flows from the said contact-carrierQQ and .105 its contact-point 30.'into theeontact-plate it carried. by said switch-arm'.-.5, which brid es the same to the contact-carrier .18

and its contact-point 21, whereugon the qur.--

ductor 63 to the terminal 62 ,of the induc; tion-coil, return'in from the ;ter;zjninalf64 thereof through t e wire-conductor 65; to

the contact-block 7 thenceinto the switch- Q arm 5 and balbcontact 34 to the; contact-.115 plate 41, thence to the battery-interrupter .or make and break terminal- 57, by way of the wire-conductor 58; and back to the battery- 50 by way "if the ground};

The auxi iaryspring-atuated contactpin 45 affords a -means for quickly closingtthe' battery circuit direct, (us in the presentuse for example,) without rendering it necessary to complete the circuit through-the' ground. 4.

I am aware that changes may be made in" the various :arran ments and-combinations of the devices-an parts as-welL'as -in--;the: details of the construction of said} pm-ta; without departing from i the Assuming .thatcf tlie.

e wire-pon- 1io ene-19f. my

'present invention as set forth in the fore-- going specification; and "as defined ,in the claims which are aplpended to the said specification. Hence, do not limit my invention to the exact arran ements and com" binations of the various evices and parts as described'in the said specification, nor do I confine m self to the details of the constructiorf of t e said parts as disclosed in the accompanying drawings. 4

Iclaimz- I 1. A switch-device" for switching'into a main line alternate enerator or other c ir cuits, comprising a ase member, -a switcharm pivotallymounted upon said base-member, an insulated contact-plate carried by said switch arm, a contact-member mounted on said base-member, said contact member bein in constant contact with said insulate contactlate carried by said switcharm, a pair 0 contact-members mounted on saidbase-member, either. one orrthe other bein adapted to be engaged by-said insulate contact-platoon said switch-'armwhen. said'switch arm is properly moved, another pair of contact-members mounted on saidl ase-plate either one or the otheri-of which is adapted'to contact with'said switch-arm when he same is properly moved, substantiallyflasand for-the purposes set forth.

2. In a switch of the charactertset' forth, the combination with a base-member of a novable switch-armprovided with sprin actuated contact-points and an insulate contact-plate, a contact-carrier mounted .on

' said' base-member carrying a spring-actuated contact-point which is constantly in contact with said insulated contact-plate carried by said switch-arm, a contact-block mounted on said base-membergmeans for. electrically connectin said contact-block with said movableswitch-arm, and contact members mountedon said base-member adapted to be enga d upon proper move-' ment of'said switc arm respectively by. said spring actuated contact-points of said switch-arm and said-contact-plate carried by said switch-arm, substantially as and for the purposes set' forth.

3. In a switch ofthe ch'aracter set forth the combination with a base-member of a movable switch arm. provided with spring actuated contact-points and an insulated contact-plate, a contact-carrier mounted -on said base member carrying a springactuated' contact-point which is constantly incontact with said insulated contact,- plate carried by said switch-arm, a contiidt block mounted on'said bu e lpember, mciinsvfor electrically connecti gisaid contact-block with said movable .=nvitch-arm, contact plates mounted on said basesmcmber adapted to be engaged by said spring-actuated contact-points 'upon saidnswltch-arm, contact carriers mounted on said base-member,

ing arms and said contact-carriers being provided with spring-actuated contact-points adapted to be enga ed by said insulated contact-plate carried y. said switch-arm substantially as and for the pur oses set forth. 4. In aswitch o the character set forth, the combination with a base-member of a movable switch arm provided with contactpointsand an insulated contact-plate, a contact-member mounted on said base-member which is constantly in contact with said insulated contact-plate carried by said switch-arm, and contact-members moun ed on said base-member adapted to be engaged upon proper movement of said switch-arr respectively by said contact-points of said sw1tcharm and said contact-plate carried by said switch-arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a switch of the character set forth, the combination with a base-member of a movable switch-arm provided with contactpoints and an insulated contact-plate, a contact-member mounted on said base-member whichis constantly in contact with said insulated contact-plate carried by said switcharm, contact-members mounted on said basemember adapted to be engaged upon proper movement: of said switch-arm respectively by said contact-points of said switch-arm and said contact-plate carried by said switch-arm, a contact-block mounted on said base-member, and means for electrically. connecting said (nntact-block with said movable switch-army 6. In a switch, of the character set forth the combination with the switch-body and its contact points of a movable switch-arm pivotally supported upon said switchbody, a'pair of outwardl and oppositely extendcontact-plate supported by.said oppositely extendingiarms, means for insulating said contact-plate from said oppositely extendid switch-arm proper, a second;'pair ofo twardl and oppositelyextending arms cbnnecte with said switch-- arm tble free ends of said second pair of oppostelyf extending arms being providedfjvi't s' ring actuated contact niealisisilbstaltia Fy as and for the purposes set fo'rt 7."In a swi 'h of the character set forth the conibinati' n" with the switch-bod its'contact po ntsz ofha movable switc -arm pivotally supported} upon said switch-body, a pair of outwardly and oppositely extending arms connected withsaid switch-arm,

and

big arms'connecte with saidswitch-arm, a

acontact-platc supported by said oppositely extending arms, neans;-.for ;insulat1ng said eontact'plate -from-,sa1d oppositely extendmg arms and said -swit ch- 'arm propera second pair of outwardly, and oppositely extendingarms connected-with said switcharm proper, the free ends of said second pair of oppositely extending arms being set forth above I have hereunto set my hand provided with s rin -actuated contact this 12th day of January, 19l1.' means, a contact 100 mounted on said switch-body, and nieans for electrically con- JAMES M. SMITH.

necting said contact-block with said m0v- Witnesses: able switch-arm, substantially as and for J05. H. YEBKES, I the purposes set forth. RICHARD P. POW'EIL,

In testimony, that I claiin the, invention WILSON D. CRAIG WRIGHT. 

